#( my wifi is struggling rn so i'm going gifless for now but feel free to use one in your reply if you'd like! <3 )

[rhysdasior]

Rhys cut his gaze away at the dreaded bedroom-related discussion, anxiously worrying at his lower lip as he weighed up the options of biting the bullet and addressing what had been gathering momentum in his mind ever since his reprieve in Mayfair or shutting it down entirely and going along with the joke to keep his wish hidden for another few years. Having spent days on end with the youngest members of the coven whilst back home hadn’t helped Rhys’ building need, only serving to nurture it further. In the quiet dark of the nights upon his return, the fantasy of such a future had featured at the very forefront of his mind, heightened by the added comfort of Roland’s arms around him once they’d worked through their most recent disagreement. Glancing back at Roland, Rhys tried for a reassuring smile, not wholly convinced it would work quite as well as he wanted it to. “I mean… Seth will need a room of his own in case of emergency, so one of them is automatically his– that’s not up for debate, for the record. But also, wouldn’t it be wise to leave one free for… other additions? Potentially?” Rhys’ expression was instantly sheepish as the questions left him, the hesitation present in his tone doing a wonderful job of hiding just how anxious actually discussing the matter made him. “I’ve got my eye on Holland. Not for anything… sordid. Just to get him out of there. Poor kid deserves a chance at a proper life, a real life. He’s still wet behind the ears, for God’s sake.” He was so close to getting to the point, yet getting the words out felt nigh impossible. 

He leaned closer against Roland with a frustrated huff at his inability to just say it. “…I’ve also… been thinking about things a little. ...Could always be an idea to leave a room spare for a little one – or a not so little one if they’re gonna be here – in time.” Not that Rhys would ever dream of bringing a child anywhere near the castle, but to give them a space of their own in every one of Rhys’ most commonly visited residences didn’t seem too outlandish a suggestion for when they were of age to make their own decisions and fatherly guidance wouldn’t hold quite as much weight. Now that it was out in the open, Rhys was hit with the overwhelming urge to take it back and play it off as a joke to save himself the embarrassment of having to be so open about such a vulnerable and delicate topic. His yearning for fatherhood was one of his worst kept secrets – his unofficial adoption of Seth and planned purchasing of Holland further down the line were evidence of such a fact, but the need to have a biological child of his own remained. Intensely so. It wasn’t just an emotional desire, it was a necessity when it came to the inevitable topic of succession and inheritance of the coven. Rhys wouldn’t be around forever, he didn’t have the privilege of immortality like so many others in and around Krovs, so these kinds of matters needed to be straightened out in advance. “…Just a thought. Nothing concrete.”

Rhys huffed a laugh despite the lingering nausea that always accompanied any admission of vulnerability or desire and he jostled Roland playfully with a roll of his eyes. “We’ll iron out the finer details once I've got the keys. For now, yeah, I’m starting you off small with a music room. I know what your interior design choices are like. I’m not having that infect the house throughout. I want this place inhabitable, Ro.” His nerves settled slightly thanks to Roland’s ever-tactile approach and he angled his head to press a brief kiss to the vampire’s jaw again, the realisation that this was happening, that this was the first step towards building a home of their own together properly dawned on him and envoked a fresh wave of adoration for Roland and the future of their relationship to wash over him, eradicating the earlier bout of nausea effortlessly. As always, Roland’s arrogance pulled a bright laugh from the witch and Rhys chose to rise above it, instead focusing his attention on enjoying the kiss while it lasted, simply pleased to have Roland’s affection regardless of the form it came in. “‘Kay. I’ll meet you out front, yeah?” Stealing one more kiss from him, deeper and longer than the last, Rhys reluctantly prised himself away from Roland’s hold to seek out the realtor, sparing a final adoring glance at his beloved over his shoulder with a loving smile before he coaxed rational thinking back to the forefront of his mind.

Tying up the loose ends didn’t take long. Rhys was all too happy to pay the deposit there and then, handing over the cheque without a flicker of hesitation once all the necessary admin was handled. With everything else emailed to him for his perusal later on, Rhys politely bid the realtor adieu and headed out with a notable skip in his step, his smile nothing but fond as he laid eyes upon Roland again. “The keys will be handed over in a couple of days,” hooking an arm around Roland’s, Rhys leaned against him as he led them back towards the car as he chatted excitedly. “I’ll talk to Arlo tonight about getting things sent over from Corinne’s place. I doubt she’ll haunt me over it. It’s not like she’s using any of it. She should just be grateful I didn’t shove half of it in storage.”

The longer they stayed here and the happier Rhys seemed with the house the easier it was to start picturing their life in it. Roland imagined they'd bicker over decor but eventually settle on some kind of happy medium, or reserve a few rooms for each of their particular tastes and compromise on the rest. He transposed their quiet nights at his suite into this house, warmed by the thought that this space would be theirs and theirs alone, no walls shared with anyone else, no possible interference from others. They would be able to do exactly as they pleased with no possibility of being overheard and the thought, along with Rhys' hum of approval, delighted him more and more.

Roland returned from his pleasant daydreams as Rhys spoke again, rubbing his back absently but looking at him in mild puzzlement at the somewhat halting assertion that all the bedrooms should remain as such. "Why would they all be needed? Are you planning on quartering political delegations here?" It was a light tease, somewhat bemused by the slightly awkward statement but mostly just mildly curious as to why it mattered. Unless they were planning on having many guests Roland didn't see the need. "Oh, I only get a little music room, do I?" His tone remained teasing even as his eyebrows went up slightly. "You never know, you may decide to host a grand dinner party with all the people we're apparently going to have here. We wouldn't want to get rid of it in that case." He absently stroked Rhys' back with one hand as the witch brushed off the need to see the second floor and apparently made his decision right there. Roland chuckled. "Decided already? I must say I admire the impulsiveness. I'm always happy to stand and look pretty though I do that without even trying." He smiled at his own arrogance and toyed with Rhys' hair as he leaned in and kissed him lightly. "But of course, you clearly love it so it only makes sense to get it all squared away. I'll take a glance upstairs while you do just to satisfy my own curiosity."